Hapshash and the Coloured Coat – Featuring the Human Host and the Heavy Metal Kids
August 4th, 2020
Hapshash and the Coloured Coat was originally a graphic design duo in late 1960s England who drew a series of highly regarded psychedelic concert posters for such rock luminaries as Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and the Incredible String Band. These busybodies also recorded an amazing improvised group jam session in 1967 called Featuring the Human Host and the Heavy Metal Kids. (Note: The title refers to a line from a 1961 William Burroughs novel called The Soft Machine, not “heavy metal” music, which wasn’t called such until at least 1968.) The title of–and music within–each cut on this album is so beautiful, no wonder it’s among my favorite rock albums from the 1960s! “H-O-P-P-Why?” starts it all off with a super deep, overdriven bass line that totally crushes, joining the drumbeat to form a simple, stomping rhythm. Electric guitar, harmonica and loosely tinkling percussion get sprinkled all over the top like the most delicious aural cupcake you’ve ever savored. A similar vibe continues on the next two tracks, “A Mind Blown is a Mind Shown,” in which bongos lead the way through a multi-layered pastoral rock heaven complete with a humming harmonica and church bells, and “The New Messiah Coming 1985,” which adds buried chorus vocals, a plethora of talking and chattering, and jingly percussion–all supported by steady acoustic guitar strumming.
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Posted by Arcane Candy